Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Another black eye for Laredo; Tom Delay found guilty of money Laundering

Delay in happier times on DWTS

The New York Times is reporting this afternoon that former US house majority leader (and former Laredoan) Tom Delay has been found guilty of Money Laundering charges in Austin. Jurors deliberated nearly 20 hours before returning with the guilty verdicts : money laundering & conspiracy to commit money laundering. Reportedly, Delay can get up to life in prison for the money-laundering charges. The writer, James C. Mckinley Jr. adds:

The main facts of the case were never in dispute. In mid-September 2002, as the election heated up, Mr. DeLay’s state political action committee, Texans for a Republican Majority, gave a check for $190,000 to the Republican National Committee. The money had been donated earlier in the year by various corporate lobbyists seeking to influence Mr. DeLay, several witnesses said.
On Sept. 13, the check was delivered to the R.N.C. by Mr. Ellis, who was Mr. Delay’s top political operative in Washington and headed his Federal political action committee. At the same meeting, Mr. Ellis also gave the Republican director of political operations, Terry Nelson, a list of state candidates and an amount to be sent to each. Mr. Nelson testified that Mr. Ellis had told him the request had come from Mr. DeLay.
In early October, donations were sent from a separate account to seven G.O.P. candidates in Texas. Six of them won. The Republican seized control of the legislature for the first time in modern history and promptly pushed through a controversial redistricting plan — orchestrated by Mr. DeLay — that sent more Texas Republicans to Congress in 2004 and helped him consolidate his power.

Tom Delay is one of a selected few laredo natives who have gone on to receive national acclaim. Others include Jose Silva: founder of Silva Minda Control and Federico Pena: former US Transp. Secratary. Editors note: Some would argue that the editor-in-chief of Laredo's most imposing blog is nearing that kind of national recognition.